Eat Healthy to Be Healthy

Eating healthy is one of the most important things that you can do to keep your body healthy. A healthy diet can help you to maintain a healthy weight or even lose weight. This is great because being overweight can lead to many different health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or even a stroke. Eating healthy can also lower the risk of diseases, increase your productivity, provide you with more energy, and help to build stronger muscles. There are many different diets out there that you can try and many different things that you can do to eat more healthy. Here are just a few general tips that you can follow to eat a little bit healthier.

  1. Avoid excess calories: The more physical things you do the more calories you will need. Calories from food are what gives your body energy. The excess calories however, they are stored in your body as fat.

  2. Eat proteins: Proteins are needed to help build and repair your muscles, skin, and organs as well as being a significant part of your hormones and immune system. Proteins provide your body with amino acids which are essential to your health. Foods like meat, eggs, cheese, and fish are high in protein. For those of you who do not eat animal products you can also get protein from soy, whole grains, seeds, and nuts.

  3. Drink water: A great way to improve your health is to cut out soda completely, drink water instead. Soda is horrible for your body. The acid in soda eats away at your teeth, the carbonation destroys your bones, and there are a lot of calories and no nutritional value. Water is essential for your body to work correctly. It is recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of water a day, that means just water with nothing added.

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Pet Perks: A Dog or Cat can Curb Loneliness and Make You Healthier

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Pet Perks: A Dog or Cat can Curb Loneliness and Make You Healthier

Separation from a loved one during training or deployment can bring intense feelings of loneliness for those left behind. Of course there are intermittent phone calls, some letters or emails and perhaps a videoconference now and then. But what about the long hours in between?

How about getting a four-legged friend?

When trained, nurtured and socialized correctly, a dog or cat can be a delightful companion that can actually improve your health and well-being. Pets can lower your blood pressure, relieve stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, make you laugh and get you moving. Who can resist a pooch whining for his daily walk? How can you feel lonely with a sleek cat sitting beside you gazing directly into your eyes and purring sweetly?

Although it’s no replacement for human touch, cuddling an animal can release the same “feel good” chemicals in our brain that have pleasurable and calming effects. Animals also can help us to be more social with others. Imagine walking your dog around the neighborhood or local park – of course people will smile and comment on your furry friend, ask questions and want to pat it.

For all the rewards a pet brings, they depend on their owners for their safety, food, shelter and medical care. Here are some tips for the responsible animal lover:
• Choose a pet that matches your personality and lifestyle.
• Make sure your pet wears a tag or has an implanted ID chip.
• Feed your animal high quality, nutritious food. Cheap food may not be nutritionally complete, and may even cause health problems.
• Take your pet to the veterinarian at least once a year and keep shots and tests up to date. For dogs, be sure to give heartworm prevention medicine year round.
• Enroll in a training class so you and your companion can learn good behaviors together.
• Spend quality time with your pet every day.

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How Soldiers in Iraq Handle the Heat

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If you’re from somewhere cool, the heat in Iraq will astound you. Early in the Iraqi conflict, many soldiers were hospitalized for heat exhaustion. Some even died. It took a few years, but the military commanders have figured out how to help their soldiers survive the heat in Iraq.

One of the first things a good commander has to do is be observant. If he notices a soldier acting confused or woozy, this is a sign of heat related problems. The soldier is treated for heat exhaustion. Another integral part of heat survival is drinking plenty of water. Military commanders will tell you that waiting until you’re thirsty to drink water is too late. Soldiers must continually hydrate.

Summer temperatures in Iraq can be as high at 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Within a few years of the Iraqi invasion, the military began to launch maneuvers at dawn and dusk when the temperatures were more manageable. Troops can trek through the heat loaded with gear such as 100 rounds of ammo, M-16 rifles, ceramic plates on front and back, kevlar helmets, long sleeve uniforms and boots. This can weigh an extra 40 pounds.

In such conditions, good health is key to survival. The commander can be ready to react when the heat exhaustion happens, but it’s up the soldier to take preventative measures to avoid injury. The soldier needs to stay in good physical condition, and he needs to eat as healthily as possible. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Don’t slack when the deployment is over. Make the healthy routine a lifestyle.

If the heat is becoming a problem, let your commander know you’re feeling the effects. Check stations now have A/C and refrigeration units. The commanders can rotate soldiers in and out of the cooled monitoring station and the guard checkpoint to help relieve heat stress.

Before, deploying to Iraq, start acclimating. You’ll be glad you did.

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Pet Perks: A Dog or Cat can Curb Loneliness and Make You Healthier

cat and dry food
Image via Wikipedia

Pet Perks: A Dog or Cat can Curb Loneliness and Make You Healthier

Separation from a loved one during training or deployment can bring intense feelings of loneliness for those left behind. Of course there are intermittent phone calls, some letters or emails and perhaps a videoconference now and then. But what about the long hours in between?

How about getting a four-legged friend?

When trained, nurtured and socialized correctly, a dog or cat can be a delightful companion that can actually improve your health and well-being. Pets can lower your blood pressure, relieve stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, make you laugh and get you moving. Who can resist a pooch whining for his daily walk? How can you feel lonely with a sleek cat sitting beside you gazing directly into your eyes and purring sweetly?

Although it’s no replacement for human touch, cuddling an animal can release the same “feel good” chemicals in our brain that have pleasurable and calming effects. Animals also can help us to be more social with others. Imagine walking your dog around the neighborhood or local park – of course people will smile and comment on your furry friend, ask questions and want to pat it.

For all the rewards a pet brings, they depend on their owners for their safety, food, shelter and medical care. Here are some tips for the responsible animal lover:
• Choose a pet that matches your personality and lifestyle.
• Make sure your pet wears a tag or has an implanted ID chip.
• Feed your animal high quality, nutritious food. Cheap food may not be nutritionally complete, and may even cause health problems.
• Take your pet to the veterinarian at least once a year and keep shots and tests up to date. For dogs, be sure to give heartworm prevention medicine year round.
• Enroll in a training class so you and your companion can learn good behaviors together.
• Spend quality time with your pet every day.

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Cooking for One You Should Do It

Cover of "Cooking for One"
Cover of Cooking for One

Cooking for One – You Should Do It

Widowed, divorced or single adults  and those separated by military training and deployments  often say they don’t prepare meals for themselves. What’s the point? they may think. Too much trouble for only me.

That attitude needs to change. Cooking for yourself is the right thing to do on many levels. Here are some reasons to consider preparing meals for yourself:

  • Grocery shopping is fun. Use coupons, choose fresh ingredients and stock up on staples so you have supplies in your freezer, fridge and pantry for a great meal. And who knows, you might see someone you know and strike up a pleasant conversation, or engage in a friendly exchange with the grocery clerks.
  • Cooking can relieve stress. The chopping, mixing and stirring, accompanied by delicious smells, puts your mind in a relaxed state.
  • If you have a television or radio/music player in your kitchen, listen to interesting talk shows, enjoy music or watch a favorite program. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the sounds of children playing or birds twittering through an open window during pleasant weather.
  • Freshly prepared meals with healthy ingredients are much better for you than fast food, prepackaged or frozen foods that are often high in sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors and preservatives.
  • Make enough for several meals. You can enjoy leftovers over the next few days, or freeze them for a later meal.
  • Cooking is an art and a skill. Like other skills, the more you practice, the better you become. Try new recipes, make modifications to suit your tastes, and use different spices and sauces. Keep track of the recipes you enjoy so you can prepare them for company or when your loved one returns.

Give it a try. You may find cooking for yourself is an enjoyable and productive use of your time  resulting in scrumptious, nutritious meals to nurture your body and spirit.

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Eliminating Inevitable Stress with Comedy

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Stress is a part of life and with every mantra we replay in our head, the inevitable truth is that stress will find its way into our consciousness. Sometimes we need to replay the innocence we had as children in that we partook in every activity with curiosity and open-mindedness that is unparalleled in our adult lives. To employ the comic relief aspect is to recognize that even the gravest of circumstances can be handled with an intermittent giggle and laugh that will help transform a situation, heavy with consequences and traumatic details, into one that is manageable.

To remind oneself that we were once children, free of the need for an accountant or divorce lawyer, is to liberate oneself from the responsibilities of adulthood that are both necessary and detached from the youthful attitudes that led to our existing circumstances that may inevitably lead to stress on so many levels. We laugh, we cry, we make jokes to understand how we can possible bounce back to productivity and happiness after what can be horrific life experiences. To recognize the polarity of experience that does, in fact, exist throughout the number of phases in which we find ourselves in a lifetime, is a healthy behavior.

This does not relinquish the power to emotionally process an unsettling event, but rather assists in the therapeutic process to make sense of realities that don’t align with our vision of what life should be like. To comedically interpret an event and employ a positive attitude with laughs, jokes, or humorous reactions is to recognize that life is short and mortal and therefore healthy. As humans, we seek refuge in the smiles that encase our reactions to untimely events and attempts for reconciliation of what we want and what we actually experience.

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Improve Your Health to Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

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It doesn’t matter if couples live in the United States, Iraq, India, or Australia, they can have problems getting pregnant. Research shows that half the time, there’s a physical problem with the male partner, and the other half of cases involve physical problems with the female. While some infertility problems will require intense therapies and intervention, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

First, make sure that you’re physically fit. Being fit doesn’t mean being skinny. It does mean improving your diet and exercising regularly. By doing these things, you’ll lose those extra 10, 15, or 20 pounds that have been hanging around your waist since college. Second, avoid tobacco products entirely and alcohol during and after ovulation. Both can negatively impact your reproductive system. Try to reduce your stress. This can be very difficult to do, but be intentional about setting aside time to unwind, clear your head, and relax your body. Many people find acupuncture and massage therapy to be excellent ways to make the stress melt away.

Women, specifically, should visit their doctor for a check-up before trying to get pregnant. This will help you identify any underlying health issues that need to be addressed to ensure that you can get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. Moms-to-be should also begin taking a vitamin that’s specially designed for pregnant women. Be sure to choose a product that has the minimum amount of folic acid, about 400 micrograms.

If you’ve already tackled all of these health issues and are still struggling to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor after six to nine months. Since most couples achieve a pregnancy within a year, there may not be any medical concerns. However, if it’s been a year or more, it’s definitely time to discuss with your doctor what could be preventing you from getting pregnant.

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Get Help for Sleep Disorders to Improve Your Overall Health

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Sleep disorders can cause serious problems for those who suffer from them. If you or someone you know has a sleep disorder, it’s very important to seek medical attention. A lack of sleep can impact your day-to-day life and your relationships. It also has a negative and significant impact on your overall health.

Doctors typically diagnose sleep problems with a sleep study. Patients are connected to a variety of monitoring devices before going to sleep in a special laboratory where technicians can keep track of their heart rate, breathing, and other functions throughout the night. While it might sound inconvenient and uncomfortable, sleep studies are vital in accurately diagnosing sleep disorders.

Problems during sleep can be as simple as insomnia, the inability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Mild prescription sleep aids can help. Physicians might even recommend trying a natural supplement like melatonin before taking prescription medication.

Sleep apnea is a more serious problem. Apnea patients stop breathing multiple times at night. The body is aroused because of the lack of oxygen, causing patients to wake only enough to snore, re-position themselves, or gasp for air. This constant process of low-level waking greatly impacts the quality of sleep, putting tremendous strain on the heart. In rare cases, people have died from heart problems related to apnea. Special devices that are worn during sleep, known as CPAPs, can correct apnea.

Some people lose sleep due to restless limb syndrome. Strange sensations disturb one or more limbs, especially at night. Prescription and non-prescription medicines can help reduce the symptoms that interrupt sleep.

Another sleep-related problem is sleepwalking. It’s often the source of jokes and has been fodder for television sitcoms, but this real condition can pose a danger. In most cases, people exhibit simple behaviors while still asleep, which might include sitting up or walking through the house. There are some medications to treat this condition.

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Feel Better by Fighting Seasonal Allergies

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Seasonal allergies are a real pain because they can make you feel sick and produce really annoying symptoms. Sneezing, a runny nose, itchy face and eyes, and respiratory congestion can sideline you from work and play. There are some things you can do to fight against this annual period of suffering.

It’s important to begin noticing when your allergy symptoms flare up. Is it in the morning when you go for a jog? Perhaps it’s in the late afternoon when you’re mowing the yard. Maybe you don’t feel all the usual symptoms until you crawl into bed at night and begin to feel the drainage seeping down the back of your throat. By identifying the situations surrounding allergy attacks and the time of day when your allergy symptoms appear, you can determine what’s triggering your symptoms. Obviously, if your symptoms appear while you’re outside or just after you’ve come indoors, you know that you can reduce symptoms by not spending so much time outside. During the weeks that you have allergy symptoms, trade the pavement for the treadmill. Pay the teen down the street to mow your lawn. Don’t sleep with the windows open. These trade-offs can have big payoffs when it comes to seasonal allergies.

Many local media outlets post pollen counts online, something that’s very useful to people suffering from allergies. If the counts are high, you should definitely re-schedule your outdoor plans, but if they’re low, head out and enjoy the sunshine.

Find a medication that works for you. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor which medicine might be best based on when your allergy symptoms appear and how long they last. While many allergy medicines are available over the counter, allergy nasal sprays will require a prescription. Begin taking allergy medicine around the time of year when your symptoms usually appear but before you have symptoms. This will allow you to head off some of the suffering.

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Help With Migraine Headaches

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Migraine headaches can be debilitating. They not only have a serious impact on the person who is enduring the headache, but also on the immediate family. Outings may have to be delayed or cancelled because mom woke up with an intense migraine. It’s important to know the causes and treatments for migraines so you can deal with them and prevent them from derailing your active lifestyle.

It’s important to identify what causes your migraines. Triggers may include certain foods, alcohol, changes in hormone levels (for women), an increase in stress, strong smells, overly bright lights, a lack of sleep, and even a change in the barometric pressure or weather conditions. By identifying the common factors that precede a migraine, you can better avoid those triggers and possibly prevent headaches from ever starting.

Treatments for migraine pain vary. Many over the counter medications can help with pain from migraine headaches. Ibuprofen (brand name Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and combination medicines (Excedrin Migraine) can provide some relief. People who have moderate to severe migraines may benefit from prescription drugs that contain triptans or dihydroergotamine. If you experience nausea or vomiting with your migraines, then you may also need to take an anti-nausea medication.

There are some alternative therapies that seem to work. Some migraine sufferers turn to caffeine for a quick fix for milder headaches. This allows them to ease the pain without ingesting traditional medications. Acupuncture is seen as an effective treatment for some people who have migraines. This therapy involves strategically placing very thin needles in the body. Acupuncture may provide dramatic results for some people but is not always effective. While acupuncture can provide relief during a migraine, it works best as a preventative tool. Massage and nutrition therapy can also work in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Ask your doctor if alternative therapies will interfere with any prescription medicines you’re currently taking to treat migraines.

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